U.S. patent application number 14/490113 was filed with the patent office on 2016-03-24 for adjustable grip hand rest.
The applicant listed for this patent is Otto Engineering, Inc.. Invention is credited to Douglas Fischer, Steven Moehling.
Application Number | 20160085257 14/490113 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 55525682 |
Filed Date | 2016-03-24 |
United States Patent
Application |
20160085257 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Moehling; Steven ; et
al. |
March 24, 2016 |
Adjustable Grip Hand Rest
Abstract
A hand grip for use in controlling machinery. The grip includes
a grip body and a hand rest connected to the grip body. The hand
rest adjustably slides and rotates with respect the grip body grip.
The hand rest includes a first locking part that is configured to
engage the grip body to lock the hand rest in a locked position
with respect to the grip body such that the hand rest does not
slide with respect to the grip body and configured to disengage
from the grip body such that the hand rest slidably moves with
respect to the grip body. The hand rest includes a second locking
part that, when unlocked, allows the hand rest to rotate with
respect to the grip body, and that, when locked, prevents the hand
rest from rotating with respect to the grip body.
Inventors: |
Moehling; Steven; (Crystal
Lake, IL) ; Fischer; Douglas; (Addison, IL) |
|
Applicant: |
Name |
City |
State |
Country |
Type |
Otto Engineering, Inc. |
Carpentersville |
IL |
US |
|
|
Family ID: |
55525682 |
Appl. No.: |
14/490113 |
Filed: |
September 18, 2014 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
74/543 |
Current CPC
Class: |
G05G 1/58 20130101; G05G
1/06 20130101; G05G 2009/04774 20130101 |
International
Class: |
G05G 1/06 20060101
G05G001/06; G05G 9/00 20060101 G05G009/00 |
Claims
1. A hand grip, comprising: a grip body; a hand rest connected to
said grip body, said hand rest being configured to slide and rotate
with respect to said grip body, said hand rest including: a first
locking part that is configured to engage said grip body to lock
said hand rest in a locked position with respect to said grip body
such that said hand rest does not slide with respect to said grip
body and configured to disengage from said grip body such that said
hand rest can slidably move with respect to said grip body; and a
second locking part that, when unlocked, allows said hand rest to
rotate with respect to said grip body, and that, when locked,
prevents said hand rest from rotating with respect to said grip
body wherein said grip body has a first set of teeth and said first
locking part of said hand rest includes a second set of teeth,
wherein said second set of teeth engage said first set of teeth to
lock said hand rest in said locked position; wherein said hand rest
includes a rotating support arm and a base portion, said second
locking part of said hand rest including a first set of teeth on
said support arm and a second set of teeth on said base portion,
said first and second sets of teeth engaging each other to prevent
said support arm from rotating with respect to said base portion;
and wherein said hand rest further includes a cam arm that rotates
with respect to said support arm and said base portion, said cam
arm rotating to engage said support arm such that said support arm
moves laterally toward said base portion and said first set of
teeth on said support arm engages said second set of teeth on said
base portion.
2. (canceled)
3. (canceled)
4. (canceled)
5. The hand grip of claim 1, wherein said grip body includes a
channel and a slot therein and said base portion of said hand rest
configured to slide within said channel, said base portion being
connected to said grip body by a shaft that extends through said
slot in said channel, said base portion sliding along said shaft
such that said first locking part engages said teeth of said grip
body to lock said hand rest in said lock position.
6. The hand grip of claim 1, wherein said cam arm is rotated to
cause said first locking part to engage said grip body to lock said
hand rest in said locked position.
7. The hand grip of claim 1, wherein said cam arm is rotated to
cause said second locking part to become locked to prevent said
hand rest from rotating with respect to said grip body.
8. A grip for use in controlling machinery, comprising: a hand grip
having a grip body; a hand rest connected to said grip body, said
hand rest being configured to slide with respect to said grip body
and rotate with respect to said grip body, said hand rest
including: a base portion connected to said grip body by a shaft; a
support arm rotatably connected to said base portion; and a cam arm
rotatably connected to said support arm, wherein said cam arm is
rotatable to (1) a first position in which said cam arm engages
said support arm to lock said support arm in a first locked
position with respect to said base portion and lock said base
portion in a second locked position with respect to said grip body
and (2) a second position in which said cam arm disengages from
said support arm such that said support arm can rotate with respect
to said base portion and said base portion can move along said
shaft with respect to said grip body; and wherein said base portion
includes a first set of teeth and said support arm includes a
second set of teeth and as said cam arm rotates toward said first
position, said support arm moves laterally toward said base portion
such that said first set of teeth and said second set of teeth
engage each other.
9. The grip of claim 8, wherein said grip body includes a slot
connected to a cavity and said shaft includes a first portion
secured in said cavity and a second portion that extends through
said slot to said base portion.
10. The grip of claim 9, wherein said grip body includes a first
set of teeth positioned along said slot and said base portion
includes a second set of teeth such that, when said cam arm is in
said first position, said first set of teeth of said grip body are
in locking engagement with said second set of teeth of said base
portion.
11. (canceled)
12. The grip of claim 8, wherein when said cam arm is in said first
position, said first set of teeth and said second set of teeth are
in locking engagement with each other such that said support arm
does not rotate with respect to said base portion.
13. A grip for use in controlling machinery, comprising: a hand
grip having a grip body; a hand rest connected to said grip body,
said hand rest being configured to slide with respect to said grip
body and rotate with respect to said grip body, said hand rest
including: a base portion connected to said grip body by a shaft; a
support arm rotatably connected to said base portion; and a cam arm
rotatably connected to said support arm, wherein said cam arm is
rotatable to (1) a first position in which said cam arm engages
said support arm to lock said support arm in a first locked
position with respect to said base portion and lock said base
portion in a second locked position with respect to said grip body
and (2) a second position in which said cam arm disengages from
said support arm such that said support arm can rotate with respect
to said base portion and said base portion can move along said
shaft with respect to said grip body; wherein said base portion
includes a first set of teeth and said grip body includes a second
set of teeth and as said cam arm rotates toward said first
position, said base portion moves laterally toward said grip body
such that said first set of teeth and said second set of teeth
engage each other.
14. A grip for use in controlling machinery, comprising: a hand
grip having a grip body; a hand rest connected to said grip body,
said hand rest being configured to slide with respect to said grip
body and rotate with respect to said grip body, said hand rest
including: a base portion connected to said grip body by a shaft; a
support arm rotatably connected to said base portion; and a cam arm
rotatably connected to said support arm, wherein said cam arm is
rotatable to (1) a first position in which said cam arm engages
said support arm to lock said support arm in a first locked
position with respect to said base portion and lock said base
portion in a second locked position with respect to said grip body
and (2) a second position in which said cam arm disengages from
said support arm such that said support arm can rotate with respect
to said base portion and said base portion can move along said
shaft with respect to said grip body; wherein said cam arm includes
a rounded portion and said support arm includes an indented wall
portion, wherein as said rounded portion of said cam arm engages
said indented wall portion, said support arm is moved to said
locked position.
15. A grip for use in controlling machinery, comprising: a hand
grip having a grip body that includes a slot extending along a side
thereof and a first set of teeth positioned proximate said slot; a
hand rest connected to said grip body, said hand rest including a
shaft, a base portion slidably connected to said shaft, a support
arm rotatably connected to said base portion, and a cam arm
rotatably connected to said support arm, wherein said shaft extends
from said base portion through said slot of said grip body and
connects said base portion to said grip body, said base portion
being slidably moveable along said shaft with respect to said grip
body and said shaft being slidably moveable within said slot, said
base portion further includes a second set of teeth and a third set
of teeth and said support arm includes a fourth set of teeth; and
wherein when said cam arm is rotated toward a locking position,
said cam arm pushes said support arm laterally such that (1) said
fourth set of teeth of said support arm engages said third said of
teeth of said base portion to prevent rotation by said support arm
with respect to said base portion and (2) said support arm pushes
said base portion laterally along said shaft such that said second
set of teeth of said base portion engages said first set of teeth
of said grip body to prevent movement of said shaft along said slot
of said grip body.
16. The grip of claim 15, wherein when said cam arm is rotated away
from said locking position, said cam arm moves away from said
support arm such that said support arm can move laterally away from
said base portion and said fourth set of teeth and third set of
teeth become disengaged from each other.
17. The grip of claim 16, wherein as said support arm moves
laterally away from said base portion, said base portion moves
laterally away from said grip body and said first set of teeth and
second set of teeth become disengaged from each other.
18. The grip of claim 15, wherein said shaft, said base portion,
said support arm, and said cam arm are connected to each other by a
pin.
19. The grip of claim 18, wherein said base portion base portion
receives said pin in a hole and said hole is large enough with
respect to said pin such that said base portion can move laterally
with respect to said pin.
20. The grip of claim 18, wherein said support arm receives said
pin in a hole and said hole is large enough with respect to said
pin that said support arm can rotate with respect to said pin and
move laterally with respect to said pin.
Description
BACKGROUND
[0001] User-operated heavy equipment, such as that found in
construction, farming, industry, and the military, typically
includes at least one control grip that is used by the operator to
move and control the equipment. The grip operates similarly to a
joy stick but is larger, and the operator uses one of his hands to
move the grip and press buttons and switches on the grip in order
to control the equipment. Often, the operator has to have his hand
on the grip for long periods of time while using the grip to
control the equipment. Therefore, some grips include rests or
supports upon which the operator can rest his hand while still also
keeping his hand on the grip.
[0002] One type of conventional grip rest is formed integrally with
the grip near the bottom of the grip and is stationary with respect
to the grip. The rest is a portion that flares out generally
perpendicularly from the grip and may be contoured to receive the
bottom portion of a hand. Such "one size fits all" rests, however,
do not accommodate all operator hand sizes and shapes. For example,
depending on the size of an operator's hands, such rests may be
positioned too low along the body of the grip for the operator's
hand to be able to engage all of the buttons positioned near the
top of the grip while still lying on top of the rest. In such a
case, the rest does not provide any support to the user's hand
while the user's hand is operating the grip. Therefore, the user
has to move his hand between the rest and the buttons on the grip
during operation, which can lead to fatigue, reduced productivity,
and/or injury.
[0003] There are also conventional adjustable grip rests that can
be moved with respect to the body of the grip. Such adjustable grip
rests, however, require multiple hands, special equipment, and even
multiple operators to adjust the rests. Therefore, such rests
cannot quickly or easily be adjusted by one operator and require
work stoppages so that the operator(s) can adjust the position of
the grip rest. Because so much effort is involved in adjusting the
rests, new users may not take the time to adjust the rests from the
position they were set at by a previous user or only a specific
individual may be allowed to operate the grip so that time is not
spent on adjusting the hand rest for a different user.
SUMMARY OF EMBODIMENTS OF THE INVENTION
[0004] Certain embodiments of the present invention provide a hand
grip including a grip body and a hand rest connected to the grip
body. The hand rest is configured to slide and rotate with respect
to the grip body. The hand rest includes a first locking part that
is configured to engage the grip body to lock the hand rest in a
locked position with respect to the grip body such that the hand
rest does not slide with respect to the grip body. The first
locking part is also configured to disengage from the grip body
such that the hand rest can slidably move with respect to the grip
body. The hand rest includes a second locking part that, when
unlocked, allows the hand rest to rotate with respect to the grip
body, and that, when locked, prevents the hand rest from rotating
with respect to the grip body.
[0005] The grip body can also include a first set of teeth and the
first locking part of the hand rest can include a second set of
teeth, wherein the second set of teeth engages the first set of
teeth to lock the hand rest in the locked position. The grip body
can also include a channel and a slot therein, and the hand rest
can include a base portion that has the first locking part and that
is configured to slide within the channel. The base portion is
connected to the grip body by a shaft that extends through the slot
in the channel, and the base portion slides along the shaft.
[0006] The hand rest can include a rotating support arm and a base
portion, and the second locking part of the hand rest can include a
first set of teeth located on the support arm and a second set of
teeth located on the base portion. The first and second sets of
teeth engage each other to prevent the support arm from rotating
with respect to the base portion.
[0007] The hand rest can also include a cam arm that rotates with
respect to the support arm and the base portion. The cam arm
rotates to engage the support arm such that the support arm moves
laterally toward the base portion and the first set of teeth on the
support arm engages the second set of teeth on the base
portion.
[0008] Certain embodiments of the present invention provide a grip
for use in controlling machinery. The grip includes a hand grip
having a grip body and a hand rest connected to the grip body. The
hand rest is configured to slide with respect to the grip body and
rotate with respect to the grip body. The hand rest includes a base
portion connected to the grip body by a shaft, a support arm
rotatably connected to the base portion, and a cam arm rotatably
connected to the support arm. The cam arm is rotatable to (1) a
first position in which the cam arm engages the support arm to lock
the support arm in a first locked position with respect to the base
portion and lock the base portion in a second locked position with
respect to the grip body and (2) a second position in which the cam
arm disengages from the support arm such that the support arm can
rotate with respect to the base portion and the base portion can
move along the shaft with respect to the grip body.
[0009] Certain embodiments of the present invention provide a grip
for use in controlling machinery. The grip includes a hand grip
having a grip body that includes a slot extending along a side
thereof and a first set of teeth positioned proximate the slot. The
grip includes a hand rest connected to the grip body. The hand rest
includes a shaft, a base portion slidably connected to the shaft, a
support arm rotatably connected to the base portion, and a cam arm
rotatably connected to the support arm. The shaft extends from the
base portion through the slot of the grip body and connects the
base portion to the grip body. The base portion is slidably
moveable along the shaft with respect to the grip body and the
shaft is slidably moveable within the slot. The base portion
further includes a second set of teeth and a third set of teeth and
the support arm includes a fourth set of teeth. When the cam arm is
rotated toward a locking position, the cam arm pushes the support
arm laterally such that (1) the fourth set of teeth of the support
arm engages the third the of teeth of the base portion to prevent
rotation by the support arm with respect to the base portion and
(2) the support arm pushes the base portion laterally along the
shaft such that the second set of teeth of the base portion engages
the first set of teeth of the grip body to prevent movement of the
shaft along the slot of the grip body.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWINGS
[0010] FIG. 1 illustrates an isometric view of a grip control in
accordance with an embodiment of the present invention.
[0011] FIG. 2 illustrates a rear isometric view of the grip of FIG.
1.
[0012] FIG. 3 illustrates a partial rear view of a version of the
grip of FIG. 1.
[0013] FIG. 4 illustrates a partial isometric view of a version of
the grip of FIG. 1 with the hand rest shown in an exploded
view.
[0014] FIG. 5 illustrates a side view of FIG. 4.
[0015] FIG. 6 illustrates a partial isometric view of a version of
the grip of FIG. 1 with the hand rest shown in an exploded
view.
[0016] FIG. 7 illustrates a sectional side view of a version of the
grip of FIG. 1 with the locking lever removed.
[0017] FIG. 8 illustrates a sectional side view of the grip
assembled with the hand rest and in an unlocked position.
[0018] FIG. 9 illustrates a sectional side view of the grip
assembled with the hand rest and with the hand rest in a locked
position.
[0019] FIG. 10 illustrates a sectional side view of the grip
assembled with the hand rest.
[0020] FIG. 11a illustrates a side view of the support arm cutout
with the cam arm removed.
[0021] FIG. 11b illustrates a side view of the support arm cutout
with the cam arm in a first position.
[0022] FIG. 11c illustrates a side view of the support arm cutout
with cam arm in a second position.
[0023] Before the embodiments of the invention are explained in
detail, it is to be understood that the invention is not limited in
its application to the details of construction and the arrangement
of the components set forth in the following description or
illustrated in the drawings. The invention is capable of other
embodiments and of being practiced or being carried out in various
ways. Also, it is to be understood that the phraseology and
terminology used herein are for the purpose of description and
should not be regarded as limiting. The use of "including" and
"comprising" and variations thereof is meant to encompass the items
listed thereafter and equivalents thereof as well as additional
items and equivalents thereof.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENTS OF THE INVENTION
[0024] Referring to the drawings, FIG. 1 illustrates an isometric
view of a grip control 10 in accordance with an embodiment of the
present invention. The grip control 10 can be used to operate a
variety of vehicles, machines, and equipment. For example, the grip
control 10 can be used by an operator to control farming,
construction, and mining equipment. The grip control 10 is similar
to a joystick and includes a grip or grip body 14 connected to a
base portion 18. The grip 14 can be moved with respect to the base
portion 18. The grip 14 includes buttons, switches, and other
controls 22 located near the top of the grip 14 that control the
operation of the equipment. An operator places his hand on the grip
14 and can use his hand to move the grip 14 to control movement of
the equipment. The user can also use his thumb to engage the
buttons 22 at the top of the grip 14. The grip 14 shown in FIG. 1
is shaped to be operated by the right hand of an operator. However,
the grip 14 can be configured to be operated by an operator's left
hand or by either hand of an operator.
[0025] The grip 14 includes an adjustable hand rest or hand support
26. The rest 26 is connected to a side 30 of the grip 14. The rest
26 includes a support arm or support portion 34 and a locking lever
38. When an operator places his hand on the grip 14, the operator
can rest the bottom and side of his hand on the hand rest 26 and
support portion 34.
[0026] FIG. 2 illustrates a rear isometric view of the grip 14 of
FIG. 1. The grip 14 includes a channel 42 along a lower portion of
the side 30 of the grip 14. The grip 14 includes locking teeth 50
in the channel 42. The hand rest 26 includes a base portion or
locking block 46 on which the support arm 34 and locking lever 38
are mounted. The locking block 46 includes a center portion 54 that
extends into the channel 42 and is configured to move up and down
within the channel 42. As the center portion 54 of the locking
block 46 moves up and down in the channel 42, the support arm 34
and locking lever 38 also move up and down along the side 30 of the
grip 14. By moving the hand rest 26 up and down the channel 42 of
the grip 14, an operator can adjust the height of the hand rest 26
to a position where the operator can reach the buttons 22 on the
grip 14 with his thumb and/or fingers while resting the bottom of
his hand on the hand rest 26. The operator can rest the bottom of
his hand on the hand rest 26 and the locking block 46. He can rest
the back of his hand on the hand rest 26, which helps in operation
of the joystick/grip 14.
[0027] FIG. 3 illustrates a partial rear view of the grip 14 of
FIG. 1 with the hand rest 26 (FIG. 2) removed. The channel 42 of
the grip 14 includes a vertical slot 44 located between two rows 52
of the teeth 50. The slot 44 leads into a cavity 48 in the interior
of the grip 14.
[0028] FIG. 4 illustrates a partial isometric view of the grip 14
of FIG. 1 with the hand rest 26 shown in an exploded view, and FIG.
5 illustrates a side view of FIG. 4. As shown in FIGS. 4 and 5, the
hand rest 26 includes a locking shaft 58 and pin 60 in addition to
the support arm 34, the locking lever 38, and the locking block 46.
The locking shaft 58 includes a head 70 at one end and includes a
hole 74 near an end opposite the head 70. The locking block 46
includes rounded cutouts 62 on opposite sides thereof with locking
teeth 66 extending outward along the cutouts 62. The locking block
46 also includes a bore 78 that is sized to slidably receive the
locking shaft 58. The locking block 46 further includes an oval
hole 82 that is perpendicular to the bore 78. The locking block 46
includes teeth 56 along the front side of the center portion
54.
[0029] The support arm 34 includes a generally vertical plate
portion 90 from which extends a pair of curved arms 94. At the end
of each arm 94 is a cylindrical base portion 86. Each base portion
86 includes a hole 96. The cylindrical base portions 86 include
teeth 98 extending outwardly therefrom. The rounded cutouts 62 of
the locking block 46 are configured to receive the base portions 86
of the support arm 34 such that the base portions 86 have room to
rotate and move laterally within the cutouts 62. In addition, the
teeth 98 of the base portions 86 are configured to engage and
interlock with the teeth 66 in the cutouts 62 of the locking block
46. The base portions 86 are positioned in the cutouts 62 such that
the holes 96 of the base portions 86 are aligned with the hole 82
of the locking block 46.
[0030] The locking lever 38 includes a generally curved body 102
with an indented portion 106 at one end and two cam arms 110 at
another end. The indented portion 106 is configured to be engaged
by a user's finger or thumb. Each cam arm 110 includes a hole 114.
The body 102 of the locking lever 38 is narrower than the support
arm 34 and the cam arms 110 of the locking lever 38 can be received
in cutouts 118 (FIG. 7) on the inner sides of the base portions 86
of the support arm 34.
[0031] FIG. 6 illustrates a partial isometric view of the grip 14
of FIG. 1 with the hand rest 26 shown in an exploded view. FIG. 6
differs from FIG. 4 by showing the head 70 of the locking shaft 58
positioned in the cavity 48 of the grip body 14 with the locking
shaft 58 extending out of the grip body 14 through the slot 44. The
hand rest 26 is assembled to be connected to the grip 14 by sliding
the bore 78 of the locking block 46 along the locking shaft 58
until the center portion 46 enters the channel 42 and the hole 82
of the locking block 46 is aligned with the hole 74 of the locking
shaft 58. The base portions 86 of the support arm 34 are then
positioned in the cutouts 62 of the locking block 46 until the
holes 96 of the base portions 86 are aligned with the hole 82 of
the locking block 46 and the hole 74 of the locking shaft 58.
[0032] The cam arms 110 of the locking lever 38 are then positioned
in the cutouts 118 (FIG. 7) on the inner sides of the base portions
86 until the holes 114 in the cam arms 110 are aligned with the
holes 96 of the base portions 86, the hole 82 of the locking block
46, and the hole 74 of the locking shaft 58. Once the holes 114,
96, 82, and 74 are aligned, the pin 60 is inserted into the holes
114, 96, 82, and 74 to secure the locking shaft 58, locking block
46, support arm 34, and locking lever 38 to each other and to the
grip body 14.
[0033] FIG. 7 illustrates a sectional side view of the grip 14
assembled with the hand rest 26 and with the locking lever 38
removed. The base portions 86 of the support arm 34 are positioned
in the cutouts 62 of the locking block 46. The base portions 86
include the cutouts 118, which are defined by a wall 122. The
cutouts 118 are configured to receive the cam arms 110 (FIGS. 4-6)
of the locking lever 38 such that the cam arms 110 can engage the
wall 122.
[0034] FIG. 8 illustrates a sectional side view of the grip 14
assembled with the hand rest 26. FIG. 8 shows the hand rest 26 in
an unlocked position wherein the teeth 50 in the channel 42 of the
grip 14 are not engaged with the teeth 56 along the center portion
54 of the locking block 46. When the hand rest 26 is in the
unlocked position, the hand rest 26 is free to be moved up and down
along the channel 42 of the grip 14. The head 70 of the locking
shaft 58 is positioned in the cavity 74 and engages the inner side
126 of a wall 130 along the channel 42 of the grip 14. The teeth 50
in the channel 42 are located on the wall 130 opposite the inner
side 126 of the wall 130. The locking block 46 is positioned along
the locking shaft 58 such that the teeth 56 of the locking block 46
are not interlocking with the teeth 50 of the channel 42.
[0035] The base portions 86 of the support arm 34 are positioned in
the cutouts 62 of the locking block 46 but are positioned laterally
away from the teeth 66 of the cutouts 62 such that the teeth 98 of
the base portions 86 are not engaged with the teeth 66 of the
cutouts 62. The cam arms 110 of the locking lever 38 are positioned
in the cutouts 118 of the base portions 86 of the support arm 34.
The body 102 of the locking lever 38 is rotated downward away from
the support arm 34. The locking shaft 58, locking block 46, support
arm 34, and locking lever 38 are all connected to each other by the
pin 60.
[0036] When the hand rest 26 is in the unlocked position, an
operator using the grip 14 can have one hand positioned around the
grip 14 and on the hand rest 26 and locking block 46 and adjust
both the height and the angle of the hand rest 26 with respect to
the grip body 14 with his free hand. A user can use his free hand
to move the hand rest 26 up and down in the directions of Arrows A
and B because the teeth 50 of the channel 42 are not engaged with
the teeth 56 of the locking block 46. As the locking block 46 moves
up and down, the head 70 of the locking shaft 58 slides along the
inner side 126 of the wall 130 of the grip body 14.
[0037] A user can also use his free hand to rotate the support arm
34 of the hand rest 26 about the pin 60 in the directions of Arrows
C and D because the teeth 98 of the support arm 34 are not engaged
with the teeth 66 along the cutouts 62 of the locking block 46. By
being able to adjust the height of the hand rest 26, the operator
can place the hand rest 26 in a position where the operator's thumb
or fingers and can operate the buttons 22 (FIG. 1) on the grip 14
while the bottom of the operator's hand rests on the hand rest 26.
By being able to adjust the angle of the hand rest 26 with respect
to the grip body 14, the operator can adjust the space between the
plate 90 of the support arm 34 and the grip body 14 to better
accommodate the size of the operator's hand.
[0038] Once the operator has moved the hand rest 26 to a desirable
height and angle with respect to the grip body 14, the operator can
use his free hand to rotate the locking lever 38 about the pin 60
in the direction of arrow C toward the support arm 34 to secure the
hand rest 26 in a locked position.
[0039] FIG. 9 illustrates a sectional side view of the grip 14
assembled with the hand rest 26 and with the hand rest 26 in the
locked position. As the locking lever 38 is rotated upward in the
direction of Arrow C, the cam arms 110 of the locking lever 38
engage the walls 122 of the cutouts 118 of the support arm 34. The
engagement between the cam arms 110 and the walls 122 moves the
base portions 86 of the support arm 34 laterally in the direction
of Arrow E toward the teeth 66 of the cutouts 62 of the locking
block 46.
[0040] The interaction of the cam arms 110 and the cutouts 118 of
the support arms 34 are shown in more detail in FIGS. 11a-11c. In
particular, as shown in FIG. 11a, the wall 122 of the cutout 118
includes a curved wall portion 134 and a contoured wall portion 138
having an indent 142. As shown in FIG. 11b, the cam arm 110
includes a slightly rounded end portion 146. The rounded end
portion 146 of the cam arm 110 moves along the curved wall portion
134 of the cutout wall 122 as the cam arm 110 rotates without
engaging the curved wall portion 134. However, when the rounded end
portion 146 of the cam arm 110 engages the contoured wall portion
138, the rounded end portion 146 pushes the contoured wall portion
138, and thus the support arm 34 (FIG. 9), in the direction of
Arrow E. The rounded end portion 146 rotates along the contoured
wall portion 138, and pushes the contoured wall portion 138 in the
direction of Arrow E, until the rounded end portion 146 is
positioned in the indent 142 as shown in FIG. 11c.
[0041] The support arm 34 is able to move laterally in the
direction of Arrow E toward the teeth 66 of the cutouts 62 because
the holes 96 (FIG. 5) of the base portions 86 of the support arm 34
are large enough with respect to the pin 60 so as to allow the base
portions 86 to move laterally and rotationally with respect to the
pin 60. As the teeth 98 of the base portions 86 move laterally in
the direction of Arrow E, the teeth 98 engage and become
interlocked with the teeth 66 of the locking block 46 such that the
support arm 34 is no longer free to rotate about the pin 60.
[0042] In addition, once the teeth 98 and 66 become interlocked,
the force of the rotating cam arms 110 against the walls 122 of the
base portions 90 is transferred from the base portions 90 to the
locking block 46 in the direction of Arrow E to cause the locking
block 46 to slide along the locking shaft 58 in the direction of
Arrow E toward the teeth 50 in the channel 42 of the grip body 14.
The locking block 46 is able to move laterally toward the teeth 50
because the hole 82 (FIG. 5) in the locking block 46 is large
enough with respect to the pin 60 so as to allow the locking block
46 to move both laterally and rotationally with respect to the pin
60. As the teeth 56 of the locking block 46 move laterally in the
direction of Arrow E, the teeth 56 engage and become interlocked
with the teeth 50 in the channel 42 of the grip body 14 such that
the locking block 46 is no longer free to move up and down in the
directions of Arrows A and B with respect to the grip body 14.
Therefore, when the locking lever 38 is moved to the locked
position, the hand rest 26 is held in a locked position with
respect to the grip 14 with the head 70 of the locking shaft 58
pressed tightly against the inner side 126 of the channel wall 130
and the teeth 56 of the locking block 46 pressed into a tight
interlocked relationship with the teeth 50 of the channel 42.
[0043] To move the hand rest 26 out of the locked position, the
user can insert his thumb from his free hand into the indented
portion 106 of the locking lever 38 to pull the locking lever 38 in
the direction of Arrow D. As the locking lever 38 rotates in the
direction of Arrow D, the cam arms 110 of the locking lever 38
disengage from the walls 122 of the cutouts 118 in the support arm
34. The base portions 86 of the support arm 34 can then be moved
laterally in the direction of Arrow F away from the grip body 14
such that the teeth 98 of the support arm 34 become disengaged from
the teeth 66 of the locking block 46. When the teeth 98 are
disengaged from the teeth 66, the support arm 34 is again free to
be rotated about the pin 60 to a desirable position. In addition,
as the base portions 86 of the support arm 34 moves in the
direction of Arrow F away from the locking block 46, the locking
block 46 becomes free to move in the direction of Arrow F as well.
Movement by the locking block 46 in the direction of Arrow F
disengages the teeth 56 of the locking block 46 from the teeth 50
in the channel 42 of the grip body 14. When the teeth 56 of the
locking block 46 are completely disengaged from the teeth 50 in the
channel 42, the locking block 46 is again free to be moved up and
down along the channel 42 in the directions of Arrows A and B to a
desirable position.
[0044] As shown in FIG. 10, a user can also unlock the hand rest 26
so that the user can adjust the angle of the support arm 34 with
respect to the grip body 14 without adjusting the height of the
hand support 34. The cam arms 110 of the locking lever 38 have been
rotated from the locked position such that the cam arms 110 are not
pushing the walls 122 of support arm 34 in the direction of Arrow
E, and, therefore, the teeth 98 of the base portions 86 are not
engaged with the teeth 66 of the locking block 46. With the hand
rest 26 in this position, the user can use his free hand to rotate
the support arm 34 about the pin 60 to a desirable position. The
teeth 56 of the locking block 46, however, are still in locking
engagement with the teeth 50 in the channel 42 of the grip body 14.
Therefore, the hand rest 26 will not move up and down with respect
to the grip body 14 while the user adjusts the angle of the support
arm 34 with respect to the grip body 14.
[0045] Once the user has rotated the support arm 34 to a desirable
position, the user can rotate the locking lever 38 in the direction
of Arrow C to the locking position. As the locking lever 38
rotates, the cam arms 110 of the locking lever 38 engage the walls
122 of the base portions 86 of the support arm 34 and laterally
move the support arm 34 in the direction of Arrow E until the teeth
98 of the support arm 34 are in locked engagement with the teeth 66
of the locking block 46.
[0046] Embodiments of the present invention provide a hand rest for
use with a control grip that allows a user to keep one hand on the
grip while using his free hand to move the hand rest to a desirable
position. In particular, the user can use his free hand to adjust
both the height of the hand rest with respect to the grip body and
the angle of the hand rest with respect to the grip body. The
embodiments of the present invention allow for the grip hand rest
to be adjusted in two different ways with just a single free hand
in order to accommodate a number of different hand shapes and
sizes. Accordingly, the embodiments allow a number of users to use
the same grip and hand rest without having to involve another
person and/or tools to adjust the position of the hand rest every
time a different person begins using the grip. The ability of the
hand rest to be adjusted to accommodate, and provide support for, a
variety of hand sizes and shapes helps improve operator efficiency
and productivity and also provides the ergonomic benefit of helping
improve conditions that may contribute to operator injuries over
the course of prolonged grip use. The adjustable hand rest also
allows the operator to operate the grip/joystick without having to
grasp the grip/joystick with his fingers because the operator can
use the back and palm of his hand to engage the hand rest to move
the grip/joystick.
[0047] While various spatial and directional terms, such as top,
bottom, lower, mid, lateral, horizontal, vertical, front and the
like may used to describe embodiments of the present invention, it
is understood that such terms are merely used with respect to the
orientations shown in the drawings. The orientations may be
inverted, rotated, or otherwise changed, such that an upper portion
is a lower portion, and vice versa, horizontal becomes vertical,
and the like.
[0048] Variations and modifications of the foregoing are within the
scope of the present invention. It is understood that the invention
disclosed and defined herein extends to all alternative
combinations of two or more of the individual features mentioned or
evident from the text and/or drawings. All of these different
combinations constitute various alternative aspects of the present
invention. The embodiments described herein explain the best modes
known for practicing the invention and will enable others skilled
in the art to utilize the invention. The claims are to be construed
to include alternative embodiments to the extent permitted by the
prior art.
[0049] Various features of the invention are set forth in the
following claims.
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